IPPC ePhyto Trip Report

A trip report is now available for IGTC Secretariat Katy Lee’s travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In Kuala Lumpur Katy attended the 3rd IPPC Global Symposium on ePhyto as part of IGTC participation in the IPPC ePhtyo Industry Advisory Group (IAG). Currently, the IGTC is advising the IPPC on the testing of its global ePhyto solution. At the Global Symposium the IGTC was granted an opportunity to discuss “ePhyto and Trade Facilitation” before attendees.

A copy of the trip report is available here.

New Board of Directors Elected

On Monday, March 19 the NAEGA Membership renewed the terms of five expiring Board Members – Charles Colbert, Zen Noh Grain Corporation; Wes Uhlmeyer, ADM; David Smoot, Viterra; Ron Williams, Columbia Grain; and Kevin LaGraize, Russell Marine Group. These terms were renewed for an additional three year period expiring in 2021. Congratulations!

NAEGA Board of Directors Terms

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IGTC Newsletter

The latest IGTC Newsletter is now available! This week’s newsletter covers IGTC actions at the International Grains Council, a call for participation in the World Bank’s Enabling the Business of Agriculture project and an update from the ePhyto project’s national and regional focal points.

For more details, read the IGTC Newsletter here or visit the IGTC website at www.igtcglobal.org.

Revised NAEGA 2 Contract Effective on March 30

On January 30, 2018 the NAEGA Board of Directors approved revisions to the NAEGA 2 Model FOB Contract and Addendum 1. In addition, the Board approved Terms of Use for the NAEGA 2 contract. These revisions will be implemented on March 30, 2018.  Please find below copies of the revised NAEGA 2 Contract, Addendum 1, and the Terms of Use. These versions will be public on the NAEGA website on Friday, March 30, 2018. Hard copies are also available and they can be sent to you upon request. Background and further detail on the revisions can be found in the below brochure.

• NAEGA 2 Model FOB Contract (Revised as of March 30, 2018)
• NAEGA 2 Model FOB Contract Addendum 1 (Revised as of March 30, 2018)
• NAEGA 2 Model FOB Contract Terms of Use
• NAEGA 2 Model FOB Contracts Revisions Brochure

Please contact NAEGA if you are having any issues implementing the new contract. Staff is standing by to assist with any questions. 

Grain and Special Grain Arbitrator List and Guidelines

On Monday, March 19 the Board of Directors approved the NAEGA list of Grain Arbitrators, Special Grain Arbitrators, and Guidelines for Grain Arbitrators and Special Grain Arbitrators. All three documents can be found below.

• List of Grain Arbitrators (effective March 19, 2018)
• List of Special Grain Arbitrators (effective March 19, 2018)
• Guidelines for NAEGA Approved Arbitrators, Special Grain Arbitrators and Schedule of Fees (effective March 19, 2018)

The list of Special Grain Arbitrators is a new list being made available to members. As approved in the March 30, 2018 revisions to the NAEGA 2 contract, Special Grain Arbitrators can serve as chairpersons on three-person AAA arbitration panels. These Special Grain Arbitrators fall under the Guidelines and Fees set by NAEGA. Previously, chairpersons had to be chosen from the AAA list of international arbitrators.

Annual Meetings and Events

Thank you to all who joined us last week in Scottsdale, AZ at the NAEGA Annual Meetings! During our time in Scottsdale NAEGA had a series of successful meetings and events, including meetings of the Contracts, Production Technology and Grades and Inspections Committee and of the Membership and Board of Directors. Minutes will be available for all these meetings in the coming weeks. In addition, NAEGA introduced the revised version of the NAEGA 2 model contract during a during a briefing on Monday, March 19. Please contact NAEGA staff if you have any questions or would like more information.

Letter on Philippine Biosafety Permits

On Friday, March 2 NAEGA joined the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) in a letter to the Philippine Department of Agriculture on biotechnology reviews and approvals. The letter notes that applications for agricultural biotech products are taking considerably longer than the prescribed timeline under the Joint Department Circular (JDC). The letter calls for  the Department to adhere to the JDC timelines for improved timing, predictability and transparency for biotech-enhanced agricultural products in order to ensure the cost efficiency and sustainability of production and trade of products imported into the Philippines.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

IGTC Newsletter

The latest IGTC Newsletter is now available! This week’s newsletter includes a report on the WTO MRL workshop in Geneva, an update on ePhytos, and a preview of upcoming IGTC events in London and Rome this Spring.

For more details, read the IGTC Newsletter here or visit the IGTC website at www.igtcglobal.org.

Letter on West Coast Labor Negotiations

On Friday, March 2 NAEGA joined 115 state and federal trade association in a letter to the International Longshoreman’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance encouraging both parties to return to the table as soon as possible and resume negotiations on a labor contract for West Coast ports. The letter notes that a contract extension will provide supply chain stakeholders with the certainty they need for their operations and help avoid supply chain disruptions and delays that arose out of previous contract negotiations. When talks are put on hold it causes great uncertainty, shifts in logistical plans and even economic damage.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Mississippi River Barge Docs Digitization

The NAEGA Board of Directors has under consideration a report on the NAEGA/NGFA Barge Docs Digitization Workshop provided by Communique, LLC. The Workshop  took place on Friday, February 16 in New Orleans, LA and brought together stakeholders from throughout the Mississippi River barge trade, including grain handlers, shippers, barge line operators and service providers. The report outlines next steps needed to pursue digital solutions for documentation.  The NAEGA Board of Directors will address next steps at its upcoming meeting in Scottsdale, AZ on March 19.